Umtiti given green-light to leave Barcelona in favor of Man United

The French defender has been in talks to extend his contract with the Blaugrana side, but no agreement has been reached.

The upcoming transfer window is going to be packed with news, and it seems that Manchester United has been given a massive boost in the race to sign Samuel Umtiti.

The talented French defender has been negotiating a contract extension with Los Blaugranas, but his demands for a wage increase haven't been met by Barcelona's hierarchy. His €60M ($72M) buyout clause makes him a major target for most top teams in Europe, and the Red Devils are first in line to try and snag him away.

In an interview with L'Equipe, a Barcelona exec admitted that the club has its hands tied if the player is ready to search for other employment opportunities.

"If he wants to leave, he will do it. We will only have to accept it. We will try to fi a solution that satisfies everyone," the source stated.

President Josep María Bartomeu spoke about the matter in another interview, stating that Umtiti's demands would disrupt the team's economy.

"We try to maintain a salary structure that has a certain harmony," Bartomeu added.

Umtiti's departure would be a serious blow to Barcelona's plan for next season, especially since other center backs in the club, such as Thomas Vermaelen, are expected to leave the club. If he ends up leaving, Barcelona may have to search for a player they didn't want to replace, giving Ernesto Valverde one more headache to deal with next season.